Inland Empire Steam and Gas Buffs
Constitution
Amended August 2026
ARTICLE I – Name
This club shall be known as the “Inland Empire Steam and Gas Buffs.”
ARTICLE II – Purpose
The purpose of this club, a registered, non-profit organization in the State of Washington, is preserving and demonstrating pioneer methods of living and the operation and maintenance of antique machinery.
ARTICLE III – Membership
Membership in this club shall be granted to any person in accord with the aims and purposes of the club upon payment of dues.
ARTICLE IV – Officers
Section 1. The elected officers of this club shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and six Directors. These ten positions shall comprise the Board of Directors.
Section 2. It is the duty and responsibility of the Board of Directors to maintain the integrity of the purpose of the club as stated in ARTICLE II of the constitution in all business and activities.
Section 3. The term of the office of President shall be for two years each with no limit to the number of terms in succession to which a person may be elected.
Section 4. The term of the office of Director shall be for two years each with no limit to the number of terms in succession to which a person may be elected.
Section 5. The terms of the offices of Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be for two years each with no limit to the number of terms in succession to which a person may be elected.
Section 6. Appointed positions by the President shall be Department Heads, Committee Chairpersons, Editor of the Old Iron, and Fair Chairperson. Each appointed position is for a one-year term.
Section 7. A member may be elected to and hold only one office at a time. A member may hold an appointed position while in an elected office.
Section 8. Any elected officer or member in an appointed position who is considered resigned from office (see Bylaws ARTICLE III, Section 4) shall forfeit his/her office or appointment upon notification by the President.
ARTICLE V – Meetings
Section 1. The membership shall in the Old Iron of each scheduled meeting not less than ten days in advance of the meeting.
Section 2. At least four meetings each year shall be held on the second Sunday of February, May, August and November unless a holiday or special event interferes.
Section 3. The election of officers shall be held at the November meeting each year.
ARTICLE VI – Amendments
This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those members present.
Inland Empire Steam and Gas Buffs
BY-LAWS
Amended August, 2026
ARTICLE I – Duties of Officers
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the association, appoint committees as described below and perform all other duties pertaining to the office.
Subsection A. The President shall appoint three members, not currently serving on the board, to an audit committee at the first quarter General Meeting. This committee shall insure that adequate records are being created, stored and backed up and verify the accuracy of all reports prepared by the Treasurer. The Committee shall present to the Board at its second quarter meeting any recommendations and their assessment of the previous year’s Treasurer’s reports.
Subsection B. The President shall submit a list of names at the third quarter Board Meeting to be considered as members of a Nominating Committee. The Board shall approve three members for that Committee by two-thirds majority with no more than one being a current Board member. Members of the Nominating Committee shall not be eligible for election to any office that year.
Subsection C. The President shall appoint three members to a Balloting Committee at the fourth quarter General Meeting, who will count the ballots and report the results.
Section 2. In the absence of or disability of the President, the Vice-President shall perform all the duties of the President.
Section 3. In the absence or disability of the President and Vice-president, the board shall appoint a member to perform the duties of the President.
Section 4. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all proceedings and record the same. The Secretary shall give notices of all meetings and perform all secretarial duties deemed necessary to the best interests of the organization.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive and safely keep the funds of the club, pay all authorized bills, maintain all membership and business records, make any necessary reports to government agencies, and prepare quarterly reports of receipts and disbursements. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer, the Secretary shall be empowered to perform the ordinary functions of the Treasurer.
Section 6. Bonding shall not be required until assets total more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
ARTICLE II – Election of Officers
Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall choose a slate of candidates and present it to the membership by publishing the slate in the October/November issue of the OLD IRON. Ballots (one per member) shall be included in the same issue of the OLD IRON. Ballots may be taken to the November meeting or mailed to the Secretary. The Secretary shall hold the unopened envelopes until the November General meeting when they will be handed to the Ballot Committee to be counted along with the other ballots. In the event that there is only one individual nominated for each of the open positions, balloting will not be required. Instead, these individuals will be considered elected as nominated and confirmed by those in attendance at the November meeting.
Section 2. Persons nominated as officers shall be current members with more than one year of membership.
Section 3. The remaining term of resigned or vacated offices shall be filled by appointment of the President.
Section 4. Special elections may be called when officers and directors total fewer than six in number.
ARTICLE III – Membership
Section 1. Any person who is in accord with the aims and purposes of this organization is eligible for membership with payment of dues.
Section 2. Applicants for membership prior to January 1973 shall be considered and recognized as charter members.
Section 3. Membership withdrawal shall be made by notification to the Treasurer. No dues will be refunded.
Section 4. An elected officer may be considered resigned from office after missing three (3) consecutive business meetings, which include Board and General Meetings, unless excused by the President. The Board of Directors shall be the body to grant excused absences for the President’s position.
ARTICLE IV – Dues
Section 1. Annual dues shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) per calendar year from January 1 through December 31, payable in advance. As long as one member of a family pays the full dues amount ($20), additional family members may join the Club with dues of ten dollars ($10) each per calendar year. This would apply to spouses, children over 18 years old, their spouses or significant others, their children, and other extended family members. This changes in the dues structure shall be effective as of January 1, 2020. The change will apply for new members paying on or after July 1, 2019, because these memberships continue through the following year, and it will also apply to membership renewals paid early but applicable to calendar 2020.
Section 2. Delinquent payments shall not exceed the current year’s Spokane Interstate Fair to retain membership in the organization.
Section 3. If a new member pays first time dues between January 1 and June 30, it will be for the current year. If a new member pays first time dues between July 1 and December 31, that membership is good through December 31 of the following year.
Section 4. The Inland Empire Steam & Gas Buffs (IES&GB) is a branch of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association (EDGE&TA). Members of IES&GB are not required to become members of EDGE&TA. Nevertheless, anyone who wants to participate in the operation of tractors or any other kind of machinery at an IES&GB event must be a member of EDGE&TA and in compliance with their rules.
ARTICLE V – Committees
Special committees may be elected by the membership at any meeting or appointed by the President.
ARTICLE VI – Finance
Section 1. An annual budget shall be submitted to the Board at the first quarter meeting for approval by a two–thirds majority. The annual budget shall be reviewed and adjusted, if required, at each subsequent Board Meeting.
Section 2. Approval of the budget provides authority for expenditures within the scope of the budget. Unbudgeted expenditures in excess of $250 shall be approved by either the President or Vice-President prior to payment by the Treasurer.
Section 3. Expenditures in excess of the approved amount for a budget category and expenditures outside the approved budget shall be approved by a two–thirds vote of the Board.
Section 4. Dues collected for EDGE&TA membership shall be promptly remitted to EDGE&TA and not included in the budget.
ARTICLE VII – Amendment
These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those members present.
ARTICLE VIII – Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority on all matters not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws of this club.
ARTICLE IX – Club Abandonment
The property of the Corporation, “Inland Empire Steam and Gas Buffs” is irrevocably dedicated to the promotion and furthering of the purposes set forth in ARTICLE II of this Constitution. Upon dissolution or abandonment of this club, after all financial obligations have been satisfied in full, all remaining assets shall be given to a non-profit organization decided upon by the remaining membership
ARTICLE X – Discrimination/Harassment
Section 1. This organization does not discriminate due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap, or any other unnamed protected classes in accordance with federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
Section 2. This organization will not tolerate harassment in any form. Suspension of membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors will be invoked for any member exhibiting this type of behavior, either individually or collectively.
Section 3. Any member whose behavior is considered improper, or whose actions/negligence causes damage or would likely cause damage to this organization, its reputation, or its members, will be subject to membership revocation by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.